Benefits of Research-Based Learning

Potential Benefits for Students

MotivationStudents report that they are often inspired by lecturers whom they perceive to be experts in their field, and who convey their enthusiasm for the subjectg (i).

Active learningStudents tend to learn most when they are actively involved in developing their knowledge .(ii)

Skills developmentThrough research-based learning students can develop the intellectual skills of critical analysis and also valuable transferable skills such as group work, time- and resource-management and data handling.

Potential Benefits for Staff

Drawing teaching and research activities closely together supports an economy of effort between the two

Less time spent on teaching preparationThe more research-like learning activitites that can be devised for students, the less the teacher has to concentrate on preparing a content-based curriculum. A switch of emphasis from teaching content to learning processes (that often include placing more responsibility on the students) can eventually reduce preparation time.

Contributions to the research processThe more involved students are with research-like learning, the more likely there will be dialogue between students and teachers which feeds into research activity.